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Manicure Monday: Layla Hologram - Flash Black

9:00 AM

Hey everyone! Today I have another holographic polish to share with you from Layla's Hologram Effect line, and this time it's a wonderful smokey grey shade called Flash Black. As much as I love the colorfulness that holographic polishes provide, sometimes you just want to wear something a little more everyday that will match any outfit. This is one of those perfect polishes that is so special because there is an easy wearability to it but it has that special kick at the same time keeping it edgy and never boring.

This polish is, dare I say, sexy? It's soooo sexy!

This is my second time trying out a Layla holo and after the first run, I was told that I should use no base or top coat to maximize the holographic effect. The key is to use the provided 2-sided nail file beforehand to sand down and then buff your natural nails so the polish has a smooth base to work with. I'm a serial base-and-top-coat applier so I very hesitantly went ahead with the process.

Although I don't usually smooth the tops of my nails (it tends to weaken nails because it's thinning it) I do have a fondness for the process and effect. It looks like you're wearing a top coat with bare nails since it's so shiny!

Application of the polish went smoothly and easily with minimal patchiness from the polish dragging on itself. I find this to be the case with most holo polishes and by the third coat, it was completely opaque and not an issue. (At this point I also had the forcibly not. use. top. coat. SO DIFFICULT TO RESIST!)

Here is the result!

Here is an alternate angle so you can see more rainbowy goodness. One thing I found fascinating about this particular shade is that compared to Misty Blush, the colors reflect a much more primary spectrum (red, yellow, blue) especially under direct light. I find it to be quite mesmerizing and it's something you have to see in real life to really appreciate. Pictures just can't do this polish justice! The colors really glow against the darker base.

In terms of wear, I showered shortly after application and had a decent amount of chipping and tip wear right away. I wasn't surprised but didn't have high hopes that it would last much longer. Shockingly, throughout the week the polish didn't actually chip much more than that initial time and instead I had a few spots that had worn down which, in my opinion, is less noticeable than significant chips.

Without a topcoat plus filing, the polish did have a slightly more holographic effect, but the perfectionist side of me still prefers the better chip-resistance that a top coat provides. Maybe next time I will try no base + filing + top coat and see how it lasts!

I bought this polish from Hautelook on sale (if you want to watch for the next sale, here's my invite) but full-price these are pricier at $15 and you can find it at Zappos and Ulta.

I cannot stress how much more amazingly dramatic this looks in person. Take a look at the pics full-size to really get a better idea of how it looks. Words can't express the awesomeness!

Have you tried any holographic polishes? What is the best technique you've found for bringing out the ultimate holo-effect? Let me know in the comments!

Wow, this is beautiful! The holographic effect reminds me of... dare I say it... The holographic Pokémon cards I used to have as a kid! :) Lots of nostalgia... I'd never heard of Layla before, but now I'm tempted to try it out!

I haven't tried too many holos, but as a fellow nail fanatic, I know that there are base coats specifically for holographic polishes; Nfu-Oh makes one called Aqua Base, Make Up Store makes one called Aqua Fix. Alternately, I have heard that matte top coats can be used as bases for holo polishes, though I also haven't tried this (I do have a NailTek base coat that applies matte, but it's rougher than a regular matte top coat is and did not work any better than no base). Hope these tips help with your "must have top and base!" obsession :DD

I saw that sale on Hautelook but did not have the money at the time to indulge on the polishes! I think next time I'll have to pick Flash Black up! It looks amazing! Although, I'd probably break all the rules and apply base and top coat... lol XD

Funny, I just had on that exact same polish! The first couple of times I used it, I was freaked out by the coverage--it would leave completely bald areas on my nails. After some research I got the Nfu-Oh Aqua Base. That allows the polish to go on smoothly with full coverage. I, too, did not use a top coat, but without the top coat I find the polish doesn't last more than a couple of days without wearing off. I guess that is worth it for the awesome holo effect, though!

About me

Hi, I'm Jen! I've been blogging and making youtube videos since 2008 and have loved encouraging others to feel beautiful in their own skin ever since. I hope you enjoy my beauty tips and reviews, style inspiration, and a bit of my life as a wife and mother!